Nashville Predators general manager David Poile is fond of saying, "The road to Nashville is through Milwaukee, because that's where our farm team is."

Poile adds, "The Predator way is to go slow with players."

But 6-4 defenseman Seth Jones, picked No. 4 overall in the NHL draft in June, is forcing Poile to rethink his position on younger players. Jones is the son of former NBA player Popeye Jones, and he is probably the most-talked-about U.S.-born defenseman since Brian Leetch was available for the 1988 NHL draft.

"We had our development camp in Nashville, and I talked to his parents and his adviser," Poile said. "And they wanted to know how it went for Seth as a hockey player, and I said that wasn't important to me. What was important to me was how he handled himself — his maturity and his respect level for his situation, (coping) with the pressure of being a top pick. And to me, for an 18-year-old, this is the most mature young man I've ever worked with. And that's a big statement for me to make after all of these years."

Jones is not a dominating offensive defenseman in the Leetch mold. He is not expected to generate Erik Karlsson-like numbers, but he's considered a complete package. He could be the American version of Chris Pronger.

"He is totally focused," Poile said. "He knows where he is, knows where he wants to be. He has no false illusions, no airs about him. He doesn't want anything given to him. He wants it earned. That's his creed."

Poile said Jones would have about two months to prove he belonged in the NHL — all of the preseason and nine regular-season games. That's when Poile would have to decide whether to send him back to his junior team or commit to having the season count toward future free agency eligibility, etc.

"I've explained this to Seth," Poile said. "We love to put players in a position to succeed, not fail. You can put a player in a lineup for a night, but what we are looking for is a career. I don't want to do anything that would damage his career."

Jones is realistic about his chances.

"It's definitely going to be a big step," Jones said. "But I think I'm capable of making it this year."

He says it helps to have a father who understands what it is like for a young professional athlete to step into a locker room with much older players. But Popeye Jones was 23 when he joined the Dallas Mavericks in 1993-94. Seth turns 19 the day after the Predators' season starts.

"He gives me small pieces of advice here and there," Seth said.

What Popeye has told his son more than once is to learn from watching the players in his dressing room.

"He talks about the mental aspect of it," Seth Jones said. "It's tough for an 18-, 19- or 20-year-old to deal with a long season. We are both on the same page with that. My dad is all about talking about how to deal with life as a professional athlete."

Jones was turned on to hockey when he was living in Denver while his dad played for the Nuggets.

"I liked the speed of the game, the tempo and the physical play," Jones said. "There were whistles, but there is really never a stop in play."

Many scouts had Jones rated No. 1 overall, yet he slid to No. 4 in the draft as three offensive stars went before him.

"It is what it is," Jones said. "I think everything happens for a reason. I really believe that. When I look back at it now, this was probably best for me. I have Shea Weber to look up to. ... There are a lot of leaders on that team, and I've heard great things about that coaching staff and they have a good track record of developing defensemen."

Jones also was invited to the U.S. Olympic orientation camp by Poile, the general manager of Team USA.

"What he said to me is I have to make the Predators before I can make an Olympic team," Poile said. "(Jones said), 'I'm not going to make the Olympic team from the Portland Winterhawks.'"

Other rookies who could receive Calder Trophy consideration:

-Center Mark Scheifele (Winnipeg Jets): He is 6-2, 192, and had 41 points in 21 games playing for the Barrie Colts in the Ontario Hockey League playoffs last spring. He registered 15 goals and was plus 18.

"He was the best player in the OHL playoffs last season, and he was dominant," former Calgary Flames GM Craig Button said. "I think his maturity, both mentally and physically, set him up well."

Tampa Bay Lightning forward Jonathan Drouin was taken with the third pick in June.(Photo: Jeff Griffith, USA TODAY Sports)

Jets captain Andrew Ladd said he thought Scheifele, 20, might have been ready to play in the NHL last season.

-Left wing Jonathan Drouin (Tampa Bay Lightning): The dynamic 5-11 forward, 18, had 41 goals in 49 games for Halifax (Nova Scotia) in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, and he might be a better playmaker than he is a goal scorer.

"He has exceptional hockey IQ and plays with confidence," Button said. "And he will be playing with really good players in Tampa Bay."

-Center Nathan MacKinnon (Colorado Avalanche): The Avalanche bypassed Jones, who has ties to the Denver area, to take MacKinnon.

MacKinnon, 18, netted a hat trick against Jones' Winterhawks last spring to lead Halifax to the Memorial Cup championship. That game probably had an impact on scouts who were on the fence about whether MacKinnon or Jones was the better prospect.

-Left wing Chris Kreider (New York Rangers): Although it seems as if Kreider has played two seasons in the NHL, he is still eligible for rookie of the year consideration because his 23 regular-season games are below the cutoff. In 2011-12, he played only in the playoffs.

With his speed and big shot, Kreider, 22, could benefit from the coaching change that brought offensive-minded Alain Vigneault to the Rangers.

"He is still a NHL rookie who feels like he has a lot to prove to his new coach and within the league," said his agent, Matt Keator. "He worked extremely hard this summer getting bigger, stronger and faster."

-Center Aleksander Barkov (Florida Panthers): Barkov, 18, has played two seasons in the Finnish Elite League. He had 21 goals and 48 points in 53 games for Tappara last season.

Barkov is expected to be paired eventually with scoring winger Jonathan Huberdeau, last season's rookie of the year.

-Right wing Valeri Nichushkin (Dallas Stars): Many scouts thought the 6-4 forward, 18, had the talent level to be considered in the same group with Drouin, MacKinnon, Barkov and Jones. But there was trepidation about drafting him because it was expected the Kontinental Hockey League would make him a major offer to stay in Russia.

He was still on the board at No. 10, and Stars GM Jim Nill grabbed him.

Nill signed him and said he expected Nichushkin to play this season. Some scouts say he has the potential to have an offensive impact similar to Evgeni Malkin's.

Detroit Red Wings defenseman Ryan Sproul (48) takes the puck behind the net as Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Troy Bodie (40) gives chase during the third period in a game at the Air Canada Centre. The Toronto Maple Leafs won 3-1.
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Sept. 27: Islanders center Josh Bailey (12) clears the puck from a scrum in front of the net during the third period against the Predators in Uniondale, N.Y. Bailey scored a goal to help New York win 6-4.
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Sept. 27: Blues center Derek Roy (12) and Wild center Charlie Coyle (3) take a face-off during the first period in St. Louis. Roy had an assist to help the Blue win 4-1.
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Sept. 27: Red Wings forward Johan Franzen, right, crashes into Maple Leafs goalie Jonathan Bernier during the first period in Detroit. Franzen had a goal and an assist to help the Red Wings win 5-2.
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Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Andrej Meszaros (41) checks New Jersey Devils center Travis Zajac (19) during the third period at the Prudential Center. The Devils won the game 4-1.
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New York Rangers forward Mats Zuccarello (36) has a scoring chance against Vancouver Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo (1) during the third period at Rogers Arena. The Vancouver Canucks won 5-0.
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Carolina Hurricanes left wing Jiri Tlusty (19) misses a chance to score a goal against Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price (31) during the third period at the Bell Centre.
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New York Islanders center Josh Bailey (12) scores a goal against New Jersey Devils goalie Martin Brodeur (30) during the first period of the New Jersey Devils vs. New York Islanders NHL game at Prudential Center.
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New York Islanders left wing Brett Gallant (59) and New Jersey Devils right wing Krys Barch (22) exchange blows during the first period of the New Jersey Devils vs. New York Islanders NHL game at Prudential Center.
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Philadelphia Flyers center Chris Vande Velde (76) and New York Rangers defenseman Ryan McDonagh (27) battle for puck along the boards in the first period at the Wells Fargo Center.
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Philadelphia Flyers goalie Ray Emery (29) makes a save against Washington Capitals right wing Eric Fehr (16) during the shootout period in preseason game at the Wells Fargo Center. The Capitals won 4-3 in a shootout over the Flyers.
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Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) carries the puck up ice against the Detroit Red Wings during the third period at the CONSOL Energy Center. The Detroit Red Wings won 4-1.
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Sept. 15: Blues wing Magnus Paajarvi (56) checks Stars defenseman Kevin Connauton (23) along the boards during the first period in Dallas. St. Louis won 6-5 in a shootout.
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Sept. 14: The NHL preseason opened with the game in Belleville, Ontario, that had been canceled by last year's lockout. Winnipeg Jets forward Scott Kosmachuk, left, scores on Washington Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby during the second period.
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